Reading. To me and my hubby, it's an essential part of life. It's helps to define who we are. My boy is learning this joy of picking up a book and reading. "Mom, is it okay if I read for a bit before I go to sleep?" was his question to me last night. Made my heart smile it did.

Books surround us.Some of it is twaddle, some living books, some good fiction, some excellent non-fiction, books to suit any fancy, mood and moment. Science fiction, mystery, good drama etc.

It becomes a struggle to figure out what to read at times doesn't it?

My approach to books is simply this... if you like it, read it. If you like reading, then you read. One book will lead to another. Sometimes a book you read will convince you NOT to read that type of book again, and sometimes a book will inspire excitement and curiousity or just plain contentment at a book well read.

My lad and I read copious amounts of books.

We have a book we read at breakfast, books to be read between lessons, and books to read at bed time. Books are an integral part of our lives.

So what do we read?Fiction: all sorts of fiction. Garfield comics, Warrior cats, Dear Canada, mystery books, historical fiction, picture books, if it's a book and looks interesting, we check it out. The worst that happens is we say "Meh, don't like it" and stop reading it.

Non-fiction: again, all sorts. Most of the time we pick a book and read a two page spread a day, sometimes we like what we're learning so much that we go on rabbit trails learning more about it. Worksheets and CD's and online learning can always wait for another day.... but that "I'm into this very much at this moment" can't always wait. :)

Some of the books we are reading lately. Mrs Quack. We are gradually working through this series.Monks and Mystics: History written in story form.1000 fantastic Science Facts: one page spread a day... space, travel and more. LOTS of questions and lots of "Ok Google (fill in the blank)Natural world: we actually just finished this and we learned tons about geography and various animals.

One of the interesting things I've uncovered is that the more we read non-fiction and fiction books, the more questions my son has and the more he makes connections between things that I would have expected. For instance in the warrior cat series when the cats had to deal with a solar eclipse. Once the lad realized what was going on he was "talking" to the cats in the book telling them not to worry so much, that the sun would come back.

What sort of connections are you hoping to make for your children this year?I know I'm interested to see where our reading will take us this year. Aren't you?